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For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists disavows what it considers to be a misapplication of its Code of Ethics as part of a shareholder proposal submitted to Coca-Cola’s annual meeting.

The proposal would compel Coca-Cola to withhold contributions to National Public Radio and its affiliates because of objections to NPR’s news coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. SPJ’s name and ethics code have been specifically referenced in the shareholder resolution. SPJ has not endorsed this use of its code, and has serious objections to the code’s use in this instance.

The share-owner proposal submitted for action at the company’s annual meeting on April 16 directs that the board of Coca-Cola “should discontinue any support, direct or indirect, for National Public Radio and any associated entities, until such time as NPR broadcasts on the Middle East can be certified as meeting the standards set forth in the SPJ Code of Ethics.” The argument for the proposal cites several instances of what are called errors in coverage and failures to correct them.

Coca-Cola, in response, has said that its only involvement with NPR has been matching the personal contributions of its employees through its Matching Gifts Program.

In a letter to Coca-Cola, SPJ President Robert Leger and Ethics Committee Chairman Gary Hill note that the Society encourages citizens to use the Code of Ethics as a reference point to stimulate discussion on the ethics of news coverage. However, they note that the code is voluntary by design and was never intended for use in judicial or quasi-judicial ways. The code does not provide any enforcement or fact-finding mechanism for assessing the validity of contested interpretations of news coverage.

SPJ does not “certify” news coverage and opposes any attempt by others to use the Code of Ethics for that purpose.

“Our strong belief in ethical journalism is balanced by an equally strong belief in a free and unfettered press,” Leger and Hill wrote. “Attempts to ‘certify’ any news coverage as in compliance with the ethics code chill the free and responsible exchange of ideas. The shareholder resolution seeks to use our code to economically punish a news organization that is actively engaged in covering one of the most controversial topics of our time. We wish to make clear SPJ sees this as an abuse of its code and repudiates the use of its name in that effort.”

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

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SPJ Letter to the Coca-Cola Company

It recently came to our attention that a Coca-Cola shareholder, CarolGreenwald, is sponsoring a resolution calling on the company to end any form of support, “direct or indirect,” to National Public Radio and its affiliates. The resolution says that “in its coverage of the Middle East, National Public Radio (NPR) routinely violates the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.”

SPJ welcomes the use of our code by any and all to help make judgments about the ethical performances of journalists and news organizations. We feel adherence to the code by journalists and public criticism of those not following the code elevates the professional standards of all journalists.

However, by design the code is voluntary and should remain so.

The Coca-Cola resolution goes on to discuss a process to “certify” NPR's compliance with the code. It even discusses having an advocacy group as the certifying agency. SPJ opposes this misapplication of its code.

Our strong belief in ethical journalism is balanced by an equally strong belief in a free and unfettered press. Attempts to “certify” any news coverage as in compliance with the ethics code chill the free and responsible exchange of ideas. The shareholder resolution seeks to use our code to economically punish a news organization that is actively engaged in covering one of the most controversial topics of our time. We wish to make clear SPJ sees this as an abuse of its code and repudiates the use of its name in that effort.

Cc:Carol Greenwald, shareholderDeval L. Patrick, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, Coca ColaKevin Klose, president and CEO, National Public RadioJeffrey Dvorkin, Ombudsman, National Public RadioNeal Jackson, vice president for legal affairs, general counsel and secretary, National Public Radio